updated 10:00 am EDT, Wed October 22, 2008

Panasonic Daylight 3D

Panasonic has introduced a 3D sensor that it says should be the one of the first to work properly in regular light. Where normal sensors only detect the amount of reflected light and so are often rendered useless in the daytime or under bright lights, the new technology's CCD sensor is intelligent enough to measure the differences in electrical charges between ambient and reflected light. This lets it work outdoors or in other areas previously off-limits for 3D sensors.

The breakthrough should allow for motion capture interfaces that have previously been difficult or at times impossible, the Japanese company says. Devices using the sensor can be used for 3D interfaces that detect gestures in computers and game consoles, and should also lead to the technology appearing to help guide robots through complex environments and help with security.

Production versions of the 3D sensor should be ready in spring and will be split into two distinct models that focus on either distance or speed. The former updates at just 20 frames per second but sees objects just over 4.9 feet away, while a second version is more precise at 56 frames per second but is limited to covering roughly 3.9 feet. Devices incorporating the hardware haven't yet been announced. [viaTech-On]